Senegal Doubles Prison Time for Same-Sex Acts

0:00It's April 1st. This is Global News Today, driven by AI tracking the world in real time. Senegal's president, Basiru Diyomai-Efei, just signed a law that doubles the maximum prison time for same-sex acts to ten years. It also makes promoting homosexuality illegal, with sentences from three to seven years for anyone caught doing that, including public displays or funding from groups. This was a big campaign promise from Faye and his prime minister, Osmani Sanko. Parliament passed it last month on March 11th, with a huge majority, 135 votes in favor, none against, and just three, abstaining. The UN Human Rights Chief called it deeply troubling, saying it goes against basic rights. Rights groups begged the president not to sign it, but the government pushed back, claiming it matches what most Senegalese people won. The law comes after a spike in arrests for same-sex relationships, which were already against the rules there. Back in February, twelve men including some public figures and a journalist got charged

1:04with acts against nature. Groups like Human Rights Watch pointed growing hostility toward LGBT folks, and lawmakers tried twice before, in 2022, and this year, too, tough in penalties. Meanwhile, other African nations are going the same route. For Kina Faso banned same-sex acts last September, Mali did it in 2024. Uganda's got death penalties in some cases from 2023, and Ghana's eyeing a harsh bill, too. This trends reshaping the region, one law at a time.